Jody Diane Stark

Jody Diane Stark of Port Orchard died June 28. Born in May 1949 in Missoula, Montana, she grew up in Racine, Wisconsin, and after 40-plus years in the northwest of Washington state, she was spiritually connected to God through her love of nature and developing deep relationships with family and friends.

Jody graduated from Park High School in Racine in 1967 and earned a degree in English Literature from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville in 1972. She taught English in her early career, but her love of nature and the outdoors led her to become a landscape designer and contractor near Gig Harbor. She spent time studying landscape design in France and, using her artistic talents, created unique and beautiful landscape designs that integrated with nature.

She later opened Ravensara with her daughter Tara, a well-known coffee stop on the Key Peninsula Highway, and served great coffee for 20 years before retiring. Jody was also a board member and volunteer for the Morning Star Waldorf School, which two of her children attended.

Jody loved music and was proficient in glass blowing, painting, writing (she published a book of poetry), and gardening. She loved sharing her artistic talents with her kids, grandkids, and friends. She had a plant nursery and loved gardening with her friends and family. She enjoyed developing friendships through these talents, along with her love of great food and wine.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys and Joe Stark; her sister Tamra L. Stark; her husband, Paul Froode; and husband, Joey Rudolph.

Jody is survived by her children, Tara Froode, Shane Gray (Aaron), and Blake Froode (Jennifer); her brothers Kempy Stark (Nancy) and Kirk Stark (Judy); and 13 grandchildren.

A memorial service and celebration of life occurred in July.